Vancouver Food Co-op & By The Bottle Chili Cook-off – January 29th, 2012

By the Bottle in partnership with the Vancouver Food Co-op will hold their first ever chili cook off and beer tasting Sunday, January 29.   Conveniently scheduled between the NFL playoffs and the super-championship bowl game this competition will help those of us who’ll be entertaining football revelers with new recipes and beer pairing ideas.

During January VFC will feature ingredients common to many chili recipes and will feature grass fed beef and pork products. We’ve heard talk of vegan recipes, traditional Texas chili, white chili, seafood chili, and more.

A limited number of entrants will serve up their best chili recipe for the judging scrutiny of a panel of food professionals and the popular votes of the rest of us. Bragging rights and prizes will be awarded to the winners. Proceeds will benefit the Vancouver Food Co-op allowing more products to be added to the bulk foods department.

When:

Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:00 – 6:00
(Entrants should deliver their chili by 2:30)

Where:

By the Bottle, 104 W. Evergreen Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98660
Phone: 360.696.0012

Details:

This is a tasting event; there is no facility to cook on site. Plan to deliver your chili hot in the pans we’ll provide to you. We’ll be setting up between 2:00 and 2:30 on Sunday the 29^th; we'll be serving no later than 3:00.

 

Your chili can be any style you like – vegan, vegetarian, or meat (but please no wild meat). You should provide a name and description and the recipe if you like (but we know some of you will want to protect your secrets). You should plan to make about six quarts, enough to fill the pans provided.

 

Every entrant will receive: two Kiggins tickets, a $5 Compass Coffee gift certificate, discount coupons for Pat-n-Tam’s meats, and a VFC discount

 

Every attendee purchasing a tasting will receive: tasting coupons for four beers Arlene selects for the event, one voting coupon, non-co-op members will receive a coupon for member pricing on store purchases in February, members will receive a Pat-n-Tam’s product coupon.

 

If you can’t quite decide which chili to vote for, you will be able to buy additional voting coupons (remember this is a fund raiser). The proceeds from this event will help the co-op to expand the offering of bulk products.

 

Professional judges will be three local chefs.

 

Everyone who attends will vote for the people’s choice award.

Itinerary:  

Sunday, January 29        

         2:00 - 2:30 set up

         2:30 Chili on site

         3:00 – 5:00 Tasting

         5:30 Award Ceremony

         6:00 Tap room and bottle shop close

Entrants:
All 10 entrant slots have been filled. If you're interested in joining the alternates list, please send an email to store@vancouverfood.coop

Only 10 entrants will be allowed. Register by supplying your name and contact information and paying the entry fee at the Co-op (1002 Main Street, Vancouver WA). The deadline to enter is Saturday January 21.

Registration fee for VFC members is $15, non-members $20. Each entrant will receive products, coupons, admission to local attractions and other goodies. Entrants will also receive 50% off their Pat n Tams beef and pork products for ingredients in their chili.

Each entrant will prepare six quarts of chili that will be delivered in a chafing pan (supplied by VFC) to By the Bottle at 2:30 on Sunday January 29th for judging. Provide the name or description of the dish and the recipe if you’d like to share it.

The Tastings – $10 gets you coupons for beer tastings, access to all chili tastings and one vote for the best chili.

The Chili – volunteers will serve portions of approximately 2 ounces of each of the ten entrants as long as quantities last.

The Beer – at least 4 seasonally appropriate beers carefully selected by Arlene for compatibility with chili.

Prizes (provided by VFC)
- Every entrant will receive a basket of goodies
- Prizes for winners in each category –
           Chef’s Choice; (celebrity judges) and
           People’s Choice


The logistics:
Entrants will prepare and deliver six quarts of chili in half-chafer pans. Chaffers will be arrayed on six-foot banquet tables in the front room of the By the Bottle store. Volunteers will serve chili into disposable tasting cups.

FAQs

Can I compete? I’ve never cooked for a crowd before!

You can and you should; we expect cooks of all levels to participate. This event is meant to include everyone and celebrate home cooked traditional recipes. Your submission may not be your tradition or your recipe; remember that some of the best dishes are a happy accident.  The important thing is everybody has a great time.

Do I cook at the competition?

You don’t cook on the premises! Cook at home, and bring it to the event! We’ll supply trays and sterno heated chafers that’ll be plenty hot for the three-hour tasting.

Does chili have to be meaty?

You do what you want. The standard for Texas chili is beef, but we’ve heard talk of vegan chili and white chili! We won’t say no to anyone tough enough to flaunt their recipe in front of hungry beer drinking judges.

How much do I need to make?

About 6 quarts of chili should satisfy the judging (that’s basically one big pot). Expect 100 people to sample your effort. The more you make, the better the chances your stuff will last the length of the event! If it runs out early, people won’t get to try it, and latecomers won’t vote on your creation!

Who is judging?

There are two judging categories, the celebrity and the people’s choice. The celebrities will be local chefs and restaurateurs. But the most important audience will be those of us who have never been closer to a professional kitchen than watching Alton Brown on television.

Should I bring condiments?

Since audience members are sampling your creation, a condiment or any extra food item might fulfill your vision and enhance the tasting experience, but be reasonable: portions will be small and tasters will have many dishes to assess.

What is provided?

We’ll provide cups, plates, spoons or forks and napkins! Each station will have a chafing dish with sterno, and an appropriate serving spoon.

Should I plan to decorate or make a sign?

Each contestant will be issued a number and can display a name and list of ingredients for the entry – creativity is encouraged!! Space will be limited but you are welcome to get creative with additional signs or decorations at your station!

What are the rules?

Make enough food and show up one hour before event time – otherwise anything goes. This chili competition is expected to pit vegetarian against meat and might include any variety of chili, from pork, to beef, to tofu, to crab!!!

Don’t sign up and not show – you’ll be the butt of jokes and the scourge of all involved! This is a competitive and social event; show up ready to have a good time.

Audience votes get the big win? So is this just a popularity contest?

Sure cooks bring their friends, and friends are expected to vote for their chef’s creation. But in the kitchen there is known to be some backstabbing, especially when another entry turns out to be better!!  People are expected to judge with their tasters and their brains – not their hearts. The majority of people won’t know anyone in competition!  We expect the best tasting dish to win!!

Does it cost to enter?

Yes, this is a fundraiser and we’re asking entrants to cover the part of the costs with an entry fee – but each entrant will be provided a pan in which to deliver and serve their chili and some nice prizes worth as much as the entry fee.

Does it cost to attend?

There will be beers to taste and ten chilis to sample, and it’s a fundraiser - - yup, we’re asking every attendee to pay $10. Each entrant will receive a coupon for a free package of Pat n Tam’s sausage products with a $25 meat purchase.

Is this a kid friendly event?

We know kids love chili, but this is a beer tasting also and kids and beer don’t mix well. Please make other arrangements for those in your household under 21 and regale them with recipes and wild stories after the event.